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Blog Behavioral Synthesis
$3 Million Federal Grant Will Provide Water and Wastewater to Commerce Park (October 16, 2008)

Announcement of Federal Funding for the New River Valley Commerce Park

 

Dublin, Virginia

October 16, 2008

 

            I am pleased to return to Dublin today to announce a major provision of federal funding for a new water and wastewater system to serve New River Valley Commerce Park. Today's announcement is a significant step toward our goal of attracting new technology based industries to this Park and providing new job opportunities in the region.

    At my request, the U.S. Department of Commerce through its Economic Development Administration is today providing a federal grant of $3,003,401 to aide in the expansion of water and wastewater services to Commerce Park. The funds are being provided jointly to the Pulaski County Public Service Authority and to the Virginia's First Industrial Facilities Authority.  The Authority is an entity which was created by 11 jurisdictions here in the New River and Roanoke Valleys in order to develop and construct Commerce Park.

    The Park is 900 acres in size and is located next to the New River Valley Airport. Several years ago, I worked with local officials and with the U.S. Customs Office to establish a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and a full-time U.S. Customs Office here.  In fact, Commerce Park is the only industrial park in Virginia with immediate access to an international airport. Additionally, the Park is easily accessible to Interstate 81. 

    Currently, an impediment to the location of new businesses in this Park is the absence of a water and wastewater system large enough to support major industrial development. The federal funding announced today will enable Virginia's First Industrial Development Authority and the Pulaski County Public Service Authority to construct a water and wastewater system of sufficient size to serve the Park. Today's announcement represents a significant step in our efforts to create new job opportunities in the New River Valley.

            The total cost of establishing water and wastewater services at Commerce Park is more than $6.5 million. In addition to the more than $3 million I am announcing today, local leaders are currently seeking $3.4 million for the water and wastewater system, and I look forward to working with them to secure additional federal funds.

            Currently, discussions are underway with officials from the City of Radford to allow the purchase of water from the City's water treatment plant to serve Commerce Park.  If those discussions are successful, two new pumps will be installed at the Radford water treatment plant and a 24 inch water line nearly three miles in length will be constructed between the water treatment plant and an existing water line on US Route 11. An additional 12 inch water line will be installed from Highland Park in Radford to Commerce Park, a distance of about 1 mile. A 700,000 gallon water storage tank and an additional 2,000 feet of water line and 3,500 feet of wastewater line will be installed at Commerce Park.

            I would like to take the opportunity of these remarks to recognize a number of individuals who have been instrumental in the success we celebrate today.

            Joe Sheffey, Chair of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, and the remaining Board members also deserve our thanks today for their leadership in this project. I would also like to express my appreciation to Peter Huber, Pulaski County Administrator, for his efforts in securing this federal funding.

            H.W. Huff, Jr., Chair of the Pulaski County Public Service Authority, and the entire PSA deserve our appreciation today for their many years of efforts on behalf of this project. 

Mayor Thomas Starnes from the City of Radford and the entire City Council have been extremely helpful with this project and I would like to thank them.  I would also like to express my appreciation to Tony Cox, Radford City Manager, for his outstanding assistance.

            Chris McKlarney, who serves as County Administrator of Giles County and Chair of the Virginia's First Industrial Facility Authority, and the entire Authority Board deserve our thanks for their work to create new job opportunities in this region. I would also like to recognize the elected officials in the eleven jurisdictions which are participants in the Commerce Park project:  the counties of Pulaski, Montgomery, Bland, Roanoke, Giles and Craig; the cities of Radford and Roanoke; and the towns of Pulaski, Dublin and Pearisburg.  The leadership of these local governments is to be congratulated for working in partnership to achieve this landmark success.

            I want to thank David Rundgren, Executive Director of the New River Valley Planning District Commission, and his excellent staff for the outstanding work they perform on behalf of the residents of this region.

            Finally, I want to thank my Project Manager Derek Lyall for his excellent work in support of the expansion of water and wastewater facilities across the Ninth Congressional District.

The provision of water and wastewater services to Commerce Park is an excellent use of federal funds. The residents of this region will benefit from the enhanced opportunity for economic development, and I would like to congratulate everyone gathered here today on this success.